Note 55 — Chapter I · —How the King of France cajoled the English after the Duke of Burgundy’s Death, for fear they should have interrupted him in the Conquest of the Territories belonging to the said Duke.—1477.

Francesco de’ Pazzi, a nephew of Giacopo, seems to have been the leader in this conspiracy. He it was who gave the death-stroke to Giuliano de’ Medici; and such was the violence of his rage that, in striking his victim, he wounded himself severely in the thigh. He then hastened to his house, and endeavoured to mount his horse, in order to ride through the city, and call the people to arms; but he found himself unable to do so, from the nature of his wound, and the great effusion of blood it had caused. Soon after he was dragged from his bed by the infuriated populace, and hanged from the windows of the palace. His brother Renato was also hanged; and the rest of this devoted family were condemned either to imprisonment or exile; with the single exception of Guglielmo de’ Pazzi, who was connected by marriage with the Medici family, and spared accordingly.